Golf club



Jan. 11, 1949 R. F. WHEELER ET AL I 2,453,920

GOLF CLUB Filed June 27, 1946 INVENTORS F; Whee 26/" j. Marcirn'ak Ra? .5172 4' Z I g rw wwmx ATTORNEY? Patented Jan. 11 1949 UNI TED S TAT ES. PATENT OFF I CE. ,7

GOLF QLUB Ralph E Wheeler; Springfield; and Emil J. Mar- I ciniak, Easthampton,'"Mass., assignors to A. G.- Spaldi'ng -& Broswlnc Chicopee; Mass a corporation of Delaware Application JuneZi, 1946, Serial No: 679,772

plastic head therefor.

It is an object of this invention toprovide-a metal connector in the forrn ofa sleeve adapted to be secured to a shaft, of simple lightconstruction', convenient and economical to manu facture, and including means'for firmly anchoring thesleeve in a molded object particularly the head of a golf clubfin a 'socket'or hosel thereof- 1 so as to'resist'torque'and shearing force, the sleeve providing substantial reinforcement for the shank andbody of the head of the club and providing a firm' base for attachment of the'head' or other molded plastic arti'cleto a shaft extending'into its hosel or socket.

Heretofore; it Was customary tocOnstruct golf" club heads of Wood or metal; and to secure a shaft'in the hosel or socket by various conventio'nal fastening means for engaging the wood or metal of the head. More recently; it has been proposed to manufacture the head .ofja golf'clubf particularly for' drivers, of molded. plastic' material.

Since the head and shank of the club are generally molded in onejpiece", it isdesirable' to -in- "The-plastic. flows into and. fills the. apertures in the -ferrule andsurrounds andle'mbeds the projections or finsextending from. its surface More over,- theiplastic-fiowsinto-the space at the lower end of thesleeve beyond the end of'the plugor core, providing an interlock-with aperturesalong this portion -o f -the sleevep Interengagement '-of --the projections and apertures of the--ferrule with the plastic provides a firm anchoragei therefor inuthe head of 'the-zclub sothat when the shaftiis-securedto the -ferrule'fa firm connect-ion is formedv between the :shaftand I the head:

The fins are lanced out so=--as-to liesubstan-- tiallly 'in iplanes parallel to theaxis of the sleeve, so-that their-surface'portions engaging the sur rounding-plastic provide maximum resistance to corporate means in the head in the molding operation for anchoring the shaft in the'head, having interengagement with the plastic material capable of sustaining without'failure the high" torque and shearingforce to which theconn'ec'" tion is subjected when the club strikes a ball; Such "anchoring" means" should reinforce rather than weaken the head and its connection with the "shank.

Moreover, when the anchorin'gf means is made of metal, "it should be of sumciently light construction to avoid substantial P efiect upon'the distribution of mass in the head.

Construction of anchoring means fulfilling allfof these prerequisites presents a relatively difiicult.

problem.

Ina preferred embodiment of my inventionwI construct a sleeve or ferrule of metal; having ;a plurality of fin-likeprojections thereon, formed by lancing out portions of the metal Wall of the tube,extending-outwardly and distributed around 1 r and along the sleeve, with an aperture at the base of each projection or fin.v lvloreover, additional of said projections. .Theferruleisadvantage? torque tending'to-rotate the sleeve in theplastic'. Moreov'erpin order :toavoid any substantial: camming action-tending rto'force the plastidaway from thersleeve when the connection is subj ected v? to 'torque; the fins exten'd in Ia generally radial i y direction from" t1ie"s1eeve.i Preferably, the fins extendtfrom: alternate sides :the apertures 'at' their f-base; rso .that they off imilar resis'ta'nce to torque ineither direction.

An: advantage of the' preferred construction in 'accor'dan'ce with-my invention wherein aper-* tures are formed --diametrically opposite-the lanced out-'projectioris*"lies"in the fact that the 1 latter can be conveniently formed by lancing outportion's of the surface with'a. tool or "instru Y merit insert'ed""through' "the"""oppositely disposed apertures."

Other objectsand advantages! of the'invention 1 will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing-:- whereina ,Figure l is; aperspective-view'of a ferrule 0rsleeve constructed in -accordance-with my invention.-

Fig.1 '2 is aplanelevation "of the sleeve of-Figxl.

Fig. -3 is a side elevationgpai tly sectioned; of golf. club head 'asse'mbled with a shaft; and =-in"-'" eluding: a sleeveinaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevationpf a golf club head similar to Fig. 3, including a sleeve of modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, the ferrule in accordance with this invention comprises a tubular sleeve Ill of metal, tapering slightly so as to be slightly wider atits top than at its base, the taper being forexample about 1:15. Along the upper part of the sleeve a plurality of projecting fins I I, advantageously shaped like a D, are formed by lancing out portions of the metal from the surface of the sleeve, leaving an aperture I la in the wall of the sleeve at the base of each fin. The lanced out fins are distributed at spaC-ed points longitudinally and circumferentially of the sleeve. For example, the lanced out fins can be formed at approximately 90 intervals around the sleeve, and arranged along a spiral or helix extending lengthwise thereof. The projections H preferably extend substantially in planes running lengthwise of the sleeve as shown in Fig. 2. As indicated in Fig. 2, the projections II are preferably lanced out on alternate sides of the resulting apertures. Preferably additional apertures l3 are formed in the sleeve ID at points diametrically opposite to each of the apertures Ila formed by outward lancing of projections H, apertures Ha and i3 being substantially uniformly spaced over the surface of the sleeve.

In manufacturing the illustrated form of the invention, apertures I3 are advantageously formed first and then projections II are lanced outward by insertion of the lancingtool through the corresponding opposite apertures l3.

Adjacent the base of the tube a plurality, for example, a pair of projections or fins I4, preferably of somewhat greater size than fins H, are lanced outwardly on opposite sides of the sleeve I intermediate the ends of the tube. An internally threaded portion l5 can be provided intermediate the ends of the sleeve for engaging the threaded end (6 of a shaft H, to which the sleeve is to be secured.

A head l8 for a golf club is molded of suitable plastic around the sleeve 10, the latter being disposed co-axially with the hosel or socket in the shank I80. which receives the shaft H. The

plastic material is excluded from the interior of the shaft-receiving portion; of the sleeve I 0, for example, by means .of a conventional core or insert shaped like the end of the shaft 11, said form the head l'8 surrounds and embeds the outwardly lanced fins II and I4, and extends into the apertures Ila at the base of the fins, as well in the sleeve.

Projections II and i4 embedded in the plastic provide exterior engagement between the plastic and the sleeve while extension of the plastic into apertures l3 and Ila, and the interlock of the plastic extending through apertures Ma provide an interior engagement constituting a firm anas apertures 13 in the upper portion of the sleeve, while at the lower end of the sleeve, the plastic material fiows into the interior of the sleeve, extending through apertures Moat the base of fins l4 forming an interlock therewith. Thus the sleeve ill is firmly embedded in the body of the golf club head. Thereafter, if required, the lower end of the sleeve can be machined off so as to be flush with the lower surface of the head l8. 1

After removal of the core, the shaft H is inserted into the hosel and secured therein by engagement of threads IS with corresponding internal threads l5 of the sleeve Ill. However, other means can be used to secure the shaft in engagement with the sleeve. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, a sleeve Illa is provided which is similarto sleeve l0 except that the threads chorage for the sleeve in the head, which resists withdrawal of the sleeve from the hosel, and especially resists torque applied when the golf club is used to strike a ball tending to rotate the sleeve in the head.

Distribution of fins H on alternate sides of.

apertures Ho: equalizes resistance to torque acting between the sleeve 18 and the head it in opposite directions. To avoid substantial camming action tending to force the plastic away from the sleeve, fins H and I4 extend substantially in radial direction from the sleeve with their surface portions disposed longitudinally thlereof. Thus, the fins are bent outward to form an angle of at least 60 with the tangent to the sleeve at the base, and preferably have their surfaces parallel to a radial plane of the sleeve which intersects the center of the aperture at the base of the fin or projection.

As indicated in the drawings, the sleeve in accordance with this invention can be readily secured to the end of a shaft so as to remain permanently secured thereto during use. While the sleeves l0 and Illa are shown as separate from the shaft H, the sleeves can also be made integral therewith. A sleeve in accordance with this invention can be similarly used to provide a connection between a shaft and molded plastic articles other than golf club heads, wherever a firm anchorage and interconnection between the shaft or sleeve and the plastic material is required for resisting torque, shear and withdrawal from the plastic.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. In a molded plastic article to be secured to a shaft to withstand high torque, means for connecting said shaft to said article comprising a metal sleeve secured to said shaft; a plurality of opposed laterally projecting fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins lying in longitudinal rows on the sleeve and extending in substantially radial direction therefrom, said fins being embedded in the plastic material of said article, and said plastic material extending into said apertures at least to the interior surface of the sleeve.

2. In a molded plastic article to be secured to a shaft to withstand high torque, means for connecting said shaft to said article comprising a metal sleeve secured to said shaft; a plurality of laterally projecting fins lanoed outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins lying in rows extending longitudinally of the sleeve and forming an angle of at least 60 with the tangent to the sleeve at the base of each fin; a plurality of apertures in said wall of the sleeve opposite said lanced out fins, said fins being embedded in the plastic material of said article,

prettiest) and the -'-plastic r material extending into the ap- "ertures at *th'e "base of said fins' and 'into -the opposite-apertures inthe-wall of saidsleeve; at le'ast to *the interior surface of said sleeve 3. In a molded plastic-article;having a-socket 'f'or receiving'the"end-'ofa shaft, means in said socket for connecting said shaft to said =-article comprising a metal-"sleeve for engaging the end of the shaft-'with 'the flatter extending part way into the sleeve; a plurality of laterally projecting fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve withan apertures-in the wall .at-the base of each fin, said fins being embedded in-theplastic material .and .the,.plastic. material. .extending into said "apertures at'the base of th'efins along the shaft-receiving portion of the sleeveto the interior surface of the.sleevegiandiextending into the interior of thesleeveithrough the apertures at the=bases of saidfinsbeyondithe shaft-receiv- .ing portion ofthesleeve.

.4. In armolded plasticarticlei having'a socket for receiving :the end of -a shaft, means in said socket for connecting said shaft to said article comprising a metal sleeve' -for-'engaging the end of the shaft with the-latter extending' part way into the sleeve; a plurality of laterally projecting D-shaped fins lanced outward from the walls of the sleeve with an aperture at the base of each fin, said fins being lanced out outward alternately on opposite sides of the aperture at their base, and being embedded in the plastic material of said article; and said plastic material extending into said apertures at least to the interior surface of the sleeve.

5. In a molded plastic head for a golf club having a shank and a hosel extending into the head through said shank; means in said hosel for securing said head to a shaft comprising a metal sleeve co-axial with the hosel; a. plurality of laterally projecting fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins lying in longitudinal rows on the sleeve and extending in substantially radial direction, said fins being embedded in the plastic material of the head; and said plastic material extending into said apertures at least to the interior surface of the sleeve.

6. In a molded plastic head for a gOlf club having a shank and a hosel extending into the head through said shank; means in said hosel for securing said head to a shaft comprising a metal sleeve co-axial with the hosel for engaging the end of a shaft and tapering toward its lower end; a plurality of opposed laterally projecting fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins being spaced laterally and longitudinally on said sleeve, the surfaces of said fins forming an angle of at least 60 with the tangent to the sleeve at the base of each fin; said fins being embedded in the plastic material of the head, and said plastic material extending into said apertures at least to the interior surface of the sleeve.

7. In a molded plastic head for a golf club having a shank and a hosel extending into the head through said shank; means in said hosel for securing said head to a shaft comprising a metal sleeve co-axial with the hosel for engaging the 4 end of a shaft and tapering toward its lower end;

dr 'sa'id s'leeve opposite saidilanced-i outi fins; the

head-"through said shank; means in said hosel forsecuringsaid head to a shaft comprising a metal sleeve tapering toward 'its lower endand coaxial with the hosel 'for enga'ging the end of a shaft-extending partway into .said sleeve; a plurality oflaterally projecting fins lanced outwardfrom-the wallof the sleeve with an aperture at the base of each fin,-.i.th'e-sur faces of saidfins being' 'pa'rallel to*a'- radial plane of the sleeve which intersects the centerof the aperture at the "base ofthe 'finysaid' fins being 'embedded in the plastic material of -'-the head, and said plastic material extending-into the said apertures along the shaft-engaging portionof thesle'eve to the int-erior surface thereof and extending through said apertures into the interior-of-the sleeve below said shaft-engaging portion.

9. In a molded plastic head for a golf club having a shank and a hosel extending into the head through said shank; means in said hosel for securing said head to a shaft comprising a metal sleeve tapering toward its lower end and c-o-axial with the hosel; means intermediate the end of the sleeve for securing same to a shaft extending part way into said sleeve; a plurality of laterally projecting fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, the surfaces of said fins being parallel to a radial plane of the sleeve which intersects the center of the aperture at the base of the fin; a plurality of apertures in the wall of said sleeve opposite said lanced out fins, the latter apertures and said fins being distributed in spaced relation laterally and longitudinally of the sleeve, said fins being embedded in the plastic material of the head; and said plastic material extending into said apertures to the interior surface of the sleeve along the shaftengaging portion thereof and extending into the interior of the sleeve below said shaft-engaging portion.

10. In a molded plastic head for a golf club having a shank and a hosel extending into the head through said shank; means in said hosel for securing said head to the shaft comprising a metal sleeve tapering toward its lower end and co-axial with the hosel; an internal threaded portion intermediate the ends of said sleeve for engaging threads on the end of the shaft inserted part way into said sleeve; a plurality of laterally projecting D-shaped fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins being alternately disposed on opposite sides of said apertures; a plurality of apertures in the wall of said sleeve opposite said lanced out fins, said latter apertures and the apertures at the base of said fins being distributed in spaced relation laterally and longitudinally of the sleeve; said fins being embedded in the plastic material in the head, and said plastic material extending into said apertures to the interior surface of the sleeve along the shaft-engaging portion thereof, and extending into the interior of the sleeve through said apertures below said shaft-engaging portion.

11. A metal sleeve for securing a molded plas- 7 tic article to a shaftcomprising a plurality of laterally extending fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, each of said fins lying in a longitudinal plane of thesleeve and extending in substantially radial direction therefrom.

12. A metal sleeve for securing a molded plastic article to a shaft comprising a plurality of laterally extending opposed. fins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins lying in longitudinal rows on the sleeve and extending in substantially radial direction therefrom; and a plurality of apertures in the wall of said sleeve opposite said lanced out fins, said apertures and said fins being distributed in spaced relation laterally and longitudinally of the sleeve.

13. A metal sleeve for securing a molded plastic head for a golf club to a shaft comprising means intermediate its ends for securing said sleeve to the end of a shaft; a plurality of laterally extending D-shapedfins lanced outward from the wall of the sleeve with an aperture in the wall at the base of each fin, said fins extending alternately from opposite sides of said apertures and each of said fins being parallel to a radial plane intersecting the center of the aperture at the base of the fin; and a plurality of apertures in the Wall of said sleeve opposite said lanced out fins, the latter apertures and said lanced out fins being distributed at spaced relation laterally and longitudinally of the sleeve. RALPH F. WHEELER. EMIL J. MARCINIAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

